2021 MEMBERSHIP FORM

 New and Noteworthy 2021

FBTA EQUESTRIAN ATTIRE FASHION SHOW, Luncheon and Silent Auction, Fairfield County Hunt Club, Thursday September 16th from 12:00-3:00. $100 pp. Contact Adele O'Kane okanadl@aol.com

FBTA TAILGATE: GOLDS DRAGOONS POLO, Fairfield County Hunt Club, September 12, tailgating begins at 1:30, Polo begins at 3:00

FBTA SPRING LECTURE: ESSENTIAL OILS AND HORSES WITH SUE KASMIN and KIMBERLY NEVILLE, Sunday, June 27th

New and Noteworthy 2019

FBTA BEACH RIDE: HORSE LOVE, February 14 

FBTA KICK OFF PARTY: March tbd

FBTA SPRING LECTURE: HOOF DYNAMICS, April 13

FBTA SPRING CLINIC: GETTING THE HEAD DOWN, June 2

FBTA SPRING RIDE: Brett Woods,May/ June

FBTA SUMMER RIDE: Fairfield Trail Network, July

FBTA TAILGATE: GOLDS DRAGOONS POLO, Fairfield County Hunt Club, August/Sept.

FBTA TOUR: THE EQUUS EFFECT 

FBTA TURKEY TROT: FCHC, November

FBTA YULETIDE RIDE: FCHC, December

FBTA HOLIDAY PARTY: December

New and Noteworthy 2018

FBTA HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE: SATURDAY, DECEMBER 15th 1:00-4:00 PM

Members are invited to join us for our holiday pot luck open house. Please bring an hors d'oeuvre or beverage to share. Contact ariane@optonline.net for more information.

FBTA ANNUAL YULETIDE RIDE: SUNDAY, DECEMBER 8th

Please join us for our annual Yuletide ride! We will depart from the Fairfield County Hunt Club at 10am on Sunday, December 8th for a roughly 2 hour tour around the trail network. The pace will be slow with the opportunity for groups to move out around the fields if the footing permits. Please enter through the service gate on Bulkley Avenue and park on the LEFT hand side of the service road (south side). We are looking for a photographer if anyone is available😁. Many thanks as always to the FCHC for allowing us to depart from their beautiful facility. Perhaps we will have time for a hot toddy at the bar at the end of the ride.The FCHC is located at 174 Long Lots Road in Westport for your GPS but please enter on the Bulkley Avenue show gate side as specified above. PLEASE RSVP to ariane@optonline.net so we know to expect you. 

All participants must be active FBTA members with signed waivers. 

We hope you can join us!  Sincerely, Ariane and Deborah

FBTA ANNUAL TURKEY TROT: NOVEMBER 18th  - CANCELLED

We are sad to say that due to poor footing we have decided to cancel our annual Turkey Trot - what a Fall it has been! Please stay tuned for information about our Yuletide Ride in early December.

FBTA members - Please join us for our annual Turkey Trot ride! We will depart from the Fairfield County Hunt Club at 10am on Sunday, November 18 for a roughly 2 hour tour around the trail network. The pace will be slow with the opportunity for groups to move out around the fields if the footing permits. Please enter through the service gate on Bulkley Avenue and park on the LEFT hand side of the service road. PLEASE RSVP to ariane@optonline.net so we know to expect you. We are looking for a photographer if anyone is available😁. You must be a member in good standing to ride on the trails, a membership form is attached. Many thanks as always to the FCHC for allowing us to depart from their beautiful facility. Perhaps we will have time for a drink at the bar at the end of the ride.

FBTA INVITE: MEET THE AUTHOR OF CHURCHILL AT THE GALLOP, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 13th at 7:30 PM

Thank you to longstanding member Barbara Burian for including us in this event...

Join us at Trinity Southport, 651 Pequot Avenue, for a special evening on Tuesday, November 13 at 7:30pm.  Brough Scott,  author of Churchill at the Gallop and Galloper Jack: The Remarkable Story of the Man Who Rode a Real War Horse will talk about these remarkable men, their horses, and their involvement in the Great War.  Brough will share his knowledge and memories, and then join us for wine and light appetizers with further discussion and book signings (books may be ordered from Amazon LINK ).   Additional information  at LINK.   Free and open to the public. Please help us plan by reserving your space at LINK

About the author: Scott was educated at Radley College and Corpus Christi College Oxford, where he read History.  His early career as a jockey saw him ride over 100 winners including the Imperial Cup and  The Mandarin Handicap Chase.  He was awarded an MBE in the Queen's birthday honors list in 2009.  Brough Scott is the grandson of ‘Galloper Jack’ Seely, owner of the legendary war horse Warrior. 

About the book: "Horses were at the heart of the Greatest Briton of them all, Sir Winston Spencer Churchill. They were his escape in childhood, his challenge in youth, his transport in war, his triumph in sport, and his diversion in dotage. This book traces all the ways horses affected his life, from the rough ride his mother had while returning from a shooting party that caused Churchill’s premature birth, to the time spent riding through childhood, and as he grew into adulthood, when riding horses increasingly became the means of proving the courage that was to become the very core of his being. The book covers his riding in the Royal Military Academy, his leading a 1,200 horse gallop of the Oxfordshire Hussars at Yeomanry camp, his boar hunting in France, his playing polo into his 50s, and his purchase at the age of 75 a front running grey that won 14 races and triggered ecstatic scenes as his homburg-hatted, cigar-chewing owner gave V for Victory signs in the unsaddling enclosure.” (Amazon.com)

FBTA TAILGATE AT THE FCHC CHARITY POLO EVENT, SUNDAY AUGUST 26th from 12:00 - 2:30 PM

Please join us at our FBTA tent at the Charity Polo event at the Fairfield County Hunt Club this Sunday, August 26th. Deborah and I are hosting a tent towards the end of the field, but please bring a refreshment or an hors d’oeuvre to share with the group. Flowers will be compliments of Barbara Burian. There will be a best hat and best tailgate award, so if you have a great hat – you should wear it! The schedule is a little different this year, here are the details:

12:00-1:00 PM  Polo demonstration by FCHC’s own Polo team

1:00 – 2:30 PM Tommy Glenn Invitational Polo Game featuring Gold’s Dragoons and Giant Valley Polo Teams

This year the format is a little different since this event is benefitting Bridgeport Hospital, so there is a $20 admission fee per person for non-FCHC members. There is also an Argentine Asado that is open to the public from 12:00-4:00 pm, the fee is $40 per person, and The Green Eyed Ladies band will play after polo if you want to dance the afternoon away! For all of the details you can go the the website for the event: WestportPolo.com. There will also be entertainment for the wee ones, if you would like to bring yours.

Please let us know if we should expect you. We hope you can make it!Sincerely,Ariane and Deborah

FBTA OUTING: TOUR OF 13 HANDS EQUINE RESCUE, JUNE 24th at 2 PM

Fantastic tour of 13 Hands Equine Rescue in Mt. Kisco today. Many thanks to owner Mary Lou and volunteer Jackie for guiding us through their tremendous facility and introducing us to their thirty or so fortunate rescue horses, who are being prepared for better lives as therapy horses, companion horses, riding horses, or just cared for horses. For more about the rescue go to: http://13handsequine.org. Contact them if you would like to volunteer, help with sorting donations, or could connect them to discounted services or a grant writer.To learn more about the historic property, Tanrackin Farm, refer to this obit about it’s fascinating original owner, Wilhelmine Waller: http://www.abbylu.com/pdfs/PROFILES/Wilhelmine%20Stewart%20Kirby%20Waller%20is%20dead.pdf. Credit to Carly Hanson for arranging the tour, I’m sorry you couldn’t join us!

FBTA SPRING KICK OFF PARTY: FRIDAY, APRIL 27th 7:00-9:00pm

At the home of Deborah and Deej Webb, Westport

Believe it or not it is already time for our Fairfield Bridle Trails Spring Kick Off Party – now if only it would get WARM!

Co-president Deborah Webb and her husband Deej have generously offered to host this party once again, this year on Friday, April 27th from 7:00-9:00pm. As always, this is pot luck and we would appreciate a bottle or wine and an appetizer to share – or both! Fun is always had by all. Please rsvp for the address at debwwebb@gmail.com or ariane@optonline.net. There is ample parking on Valley Field Road, the side street adjacent to their house.

You FBTA membership is used to pay for insurance and maintenance for our trails, even if you don’t use the trails we offer great educational and social opportunities. This party is an excellent opportunity to update your membership – save a stamp! - print out a copy of our membership form here. ALSO new this year, you can pay with a credit card via Paypal, just click through to our website and push the yellow PayPal button:  http://www.fairfieldbridletrails.org/join_the_fbta_with_paypal. We are halfway there in our membership drive – many thanks to those of you who have already made their donations - but we still need to raise double what we’ve received so please keep us in your philanthropic giving thoughts. 

Just as a reminder trail riders MUST be active members with signed waivers to use the trails, so if you have not sent in your membership yet, now is the time! Thank you everyone for the commitment you have shown to the Bridle Trails,  many of you for so many years, it is much appreciated and the trails are still there and beautiful, thanks to your help.

Hope to see you next Friday!  Don’t be shy if you are new to the group – we are a fun bunch.

Best, Ariane and Deborah

VACCINES AND VITAL SIGNS: SATURDAY, MARCH 10th, 10:00-12:00PM

PILATES FOR EQUESTRIANS: SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 10th, 2PM

  Delicious Pilates/STBL Technique                                                  West Mountain Farm, 217 Old West Mountain Road, Ridgefield, CT

Join us at pilates practitioner Tiffany DeMartin's studio, Delicious Pilates, in Ridgefield for a demonstration of the STBL Technique for riders that Tiffany has developed in collaboration with Kirsten Gray of Sonnenhof Equestrian Center in Easton. Tiffany is a lifelong equestrian and trained with George Morris and Judy Richter as a young rider. She is currently practicing dressage at Sonnenhof. The STBL Technique is "a pilates based movement practice that identifies patterns, strengthens imbalances, and targets specific weaknesses both in the studio and under saddle." For this session Tiffany will explain and demonstate these principles, then interested participants can put these theories into practice with mat work. No pressure to participate, viewers are good too!

Please RSVP to Carly Hanson at wieland83@gmail.com.

 New and Noteworthy 2017

Please see our Facebook page for more photos: Fairfield Bridle Trails Association

FBTA HOLIDAY PARTY: SUNDAY, DECEMBER 3RD

Please join us to ring in the holiday season this Sunday. As always we welcome offerings of wine and treats. Plase email me for the address if you would like to come.

FBTA TURKEY TROT: SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 18th

Fun on the Fairfield trails for our Turkey Trot. Thanks to Carly Hanson for being our official photographer and the FCHC for welcoming us for our send off. From left members Scott Green, Christina Stanton, Rose Thomas, Ariane Mermod, Anne Hamonet, Jeanette Ciciora, Alice Fisher, and Stu Stewart. Look how all the horses are staying clear of Lavender in the center, haha that is my pony, viscious... 

FBTA POLO TAILGATE: GOLD'S DRAGOONS EXHIBITION POLO GAME SUNDAY, AUGUST 27th from 1:30-4:30

Please join the FBTA for a tailgate field side at the Gold's Dragoons Exhibition Polo Match at the Fairfield County Hunt Club this Sunday. Look for the tent with the FBTA Banner. Offerings of food and/or beverages (wine perhaps?) would be most appreciated. Here are the details:

Gold's Dragoons Exhibition Polo Match

The Fairfield County Hunt Club - 174 Long Lots Road, Westport

Tailgating starts at 1:30, Polo starts at 3:00 pm

Hope to see you there!

FBTA SUMMER RIDE IN SOUTHPORT: SUNDAY, JULY 16

A beautiful day on our lower trail network riding out with members Susan Ellis, Virginia Pursche, Deborah Webb, Kelly Hitt, Rose Thomas, and Ariane Mermod. Many thanks to Carly Hanson for being the designated photographer and the FCHC for their hospitality. 

FBTA SPRING RIDE IN BRETT WOODS: SUNDAY, JUNE 11th

Good fun checking out the upper trail network with members Ariane Mermod, Anne Hamonet, Deborah Webb, Lisa Topham, Kelly Hitt, and Pamela Ann. Many thanks to Vivian Sorvall for hosting our "tailgate" at her lovely home afterwards.

FBTA SPRING LECTURE: THE COMPASSIONATE EQUESTRIAN   SATURDAY, MAY 13th from 1:00-3:00

 Please join us to hear vet Krista Zahn explain her collaboration with DVM Allen Schoen on how to develop a more productive relationship with your horse through more compassionate interaction. I have read a good part of this book and it is fascinating, practical, and very information. I think everyone will be able to get something applicable out of this lecture and demonstation.

Held at the barn of member Hilary Morision in Fairfield, please email me for the address. Nibbles and libations are always be welcome. More information can be found at thecompassionateequestrian.com.

FBTA KICK OFF PARTY: FRIDAY, MARCH 31st 6:30-8:30


Please join us for our annual Kick Off Party! This is always a fun party where riders can catch up on their off seasons and get ready for Spring riding. This event is pot luck, please bring an hors d'oeuvres and/or bottle of wine to share. Hosted by Deborah and Deej Webb, please email to rsvp and for further details. 

FBTA BEACH RIDE: MONDAY, MARCH 19th            

A beautiful day on the beach for a ride! 

FIRST FBTA FILLY FILM NIGHT : SNOWMAN - SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 26th 

When it's too snowy to ride horses, why not watch a movie about one instead?! Horse logic. FBTA members are welcome to come to a member home to watch this amazing movie on the "big" screen. 

Sunday, February 26th

Preview Party starts at 6pm

Movie starts at 7pm

Guests are welcome with a recommended donation of $20. 

Wine and popcorn or snacks would be most appreciated.

Please RSVP to ariane@optonline.net

New and Noteworthy 2016

NEWSFLASH! Due to foul weather, the Turkey Trot has been rescheduled to Saturday, November 26th at 11 am. please contact me for further details: ariane@optonline.net

FBTA HOLIDAY PARTY - SUNDAY, DECEMBER 18th from 1-4 pm

Please join us for our annual holiday party! Contact ariane@optonline.net for more details.

FBTA TURKEY TROT GROUP RIDE - SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 26th, 11:00 - 1:00 pm

Please join us for a group ride on our lower trail system. We will determine a meeting point based on where participants are coming from. Email me at ariane@optonline.net if you would like to participate. This will be an easy ride adjusted to a pace everyone is comfortable with - don't be intimidated! We would love to have you come and enjoy this beautiful trail system. If there is time it would be nice to have a little turkey trot tailgate when we are finished as well. Festive attire would be fun :-). 

FBTA FALL CLINIC - OCT 1, 1:00-3:00: GET BALANCED WITH ALLIE THURSTON AND GAIL BERNSON

Please join the Fairfield Bridle Trails Association for our Fall clinic! Allie and Gail will show us how to modify our own body movement to align with our horses for better balance and a more complete partnership. This will be a presentation with some viewer participation. Refreshments will be served - Feel free to bring something.

At Machamux Farm: 45 Sunset Hill Road, Redding, CT.

Please rsvp to ariane@optonline.net.

FBTA POLO TAILGATE PARTY - Sunday, August 28th from 1:00- 4:30

Please join the Fairfield Bridle Trails Association for an afternoon of Polo!

The Gold’s Dragoons are playing at the Fairfield County Hunt Club

174 Long Lots Road, Westport

Sunday, August 28th

Tailgating starts at 1:00, Polo starts at 3:00 pm

Look for the The FBTA  tent and banner. Admission is free but please bring libations and nibbles to share. 

Many thanks to Barbara Burian and Deborah Webb for arranging for the set-up.

RSVP appreciated.

Would love to see you there!

Sincerely,

Ariane, Deborah, and Barbara

FTBA SPRING LECTURE - Sunday, May 15th from 1:30-3:30

Please join us for our Spring Lecture: Kate Kennedy, Equine Trigger Point and Craneo-Sacral Muscle Therapist and Animal Communicator, next Sunday, May 15th from 1:30-3:30 at the barn of Vivian and Noel Sorvall, 3160 North Street, Fairfield. As with all of our events, an offering of food and drink are always welcome. We hope you can come ~ please let us know by emailing ariane@optonline.net. 

With the assistance of a couple of horse models, Kate will show us how to identify painful points on our horses through stance and range of motion analysis, and how to adjust these areas ourselves. She will show us useful stretching and release exercises for our horses. Kate will also introduce us to the basic principles of animal telecommunication - how to reach out to our horses and how to receive information back. If you are curious to find out more about Kate and her methods before the lecture you can take a look at her website at www.equinemuscletheraphy72.com. 

Hope to see you next Sunday!

FBTA KICK OFF PARTY - Thursday, April 7, 2016 from 6:30pm


Please join us for our annual kick-off party to start the riding season! Once again generously hosted by Deborah and Deej Webb at their lovely home in Westport. As in the past the event is pot luck so please bring an hors d'oeuvre and/or beverage to share. NEW THIS YEAR, we have a SILENT AUCTION for horse friendly goods and services. If you would like to help with auction solicitations, or have questions about the kick off party, please contact Ariane at ariane@optonline.net.  

FBTA GROUP READ: The HORSE by Wendy Williams - February/March 2016

Beat the winter blues! While we are cooped up inside why not read a book we can discuss at our kick off meeting? You are invited to join us in a group read of the acclaimed new book by Wendy Williams, "The Horse: An Epic History of our Noble Companions."  Here is a summary from the publisher: "Williams chronicles the 56-million-year journey of horses as she visits with experts around the world, exploring ... what our longtime companion might think and feel. Indeed, recent scientific breakthroughs regarding the social and cognitive capacities of the horse and its ability to adapt to changing ecosystems indicate that this animal is a major evolutionary triumph...She blends profound scientific insights with remarkable stories to create a unique biography of the horse as a sentient being with a fascinating past and a finely nuanced mind."

It has received a lot of attention:

New York Times Bestseller and New York Times Book Review Editors' Choice 

A Best Book of 2015, The Wall Street Journal

"Love is the driver for Wendy Williams's new book, The Horse . . . [an] affectionate, thoroughgoing, good-hearted book." —Jaimy Gordon, The New York Times Book Review

"Charming and deeply interesting . . . Ms. Williams does a marvelous job." —Pat Shipman, The Wall Street Journal

The book horse-lovers have been waiting for

You can purchase this book at http://www.amazon.com/Horse-Epic-History-Noble-Companion/dp/0374224404/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8

FBTA NEW YEARS DAY RIDE - January 1, 2016

 What a beautiful way to start the new Year! FBTA members enjoy a ride and taigate at Penfield Beach on New Years Day,

NEW AND NOTEWORTHY 2015

FBTA HOLIDAY PARTY - OPEN HOUSE AT MACHAMUX FARM - NEW TIME!

Sunday, December 20th, 2015 from 1:00-3:00

Please join us for our annual holiday party, this year at co-president Ariane Mermod's new horse farm in Redding. In deference to the distance, our party will be held as a luncheon on Sunday afternoon.

As in the past, please bring an hors d'oeuvre and/or bottle of wine or beverage to share. The party is pot-luck. Hope to see you there!

If you haven't renewed your membership this year, feel free to print out a membership form above and bring it with you with your 2015 dues.

Best wishes for a wonderful holiday...

BTA SPRING LECTURE: HOOF DYNAMICS, April 13

FBTA SPRING CLINIC: GETTING THE HEAD DOWN, June 2

FBTA SPRING RIDE: Brett Woods,May/ June

FBTA SUMMER RIDE: Fairfield Trail Network, July

Get Involved!

Make new riding friends, discover new riding territory, and share your knowledge with other riders. Contact us at info@fairfieldbridletrails.org for more information or go ahead and become a member today!

The FBTA Columbus Day Hunter Trials is a great way to support the trails association while having fun on your pony or horse. It is open to members and non-members alike. Please refer to the Hunter Trails page for more information.

Don't ride but want to support the equine tradition in Fairfield? Please become a supporter of the FBTA. You will receive a copy of our newsletter, invitations to attend our special events, and our sincere appreciation.